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April 25, 2011 Get Retirement News  |  Advertise  |  Unsubscribe  |  Past Issues  |  Search

[Guidance Overview]
Employee's State Claim Over Health Plan Not ERISA Preempted
"The 10th U.S. Circuit of Appeals has determined that a former employee who won damages in a previous [ERISA] lawsuit no longer has standing to sue under ERISA." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)


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Health Care Costs Rise 6.19% Over 12-Months Ending February 2011
"The S&P Healthcare Economic Composite Index indicates that the average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by commercial insurance and Medicare programs increased . . . ." (Healthcare Town Hall)

Rising Costs for Employee Health Benefits, According to Survey
"Reflecting claim activity over a six-month period, projected increases in the national average cost of claims include . . . ." (TheStreet.com, Inc.)

Account Based Health Plans Save Money for Employers and Employees
"Account based health plans (ABHPs) is a catch-all for plans that combine a high deductible with a personal account that can be used to pay for medical expenses not paid by the plan." (AllBusiness.com, Inc.)

Public Employer and Employee Savings on Premium Contributions with a Section 125 Plan
"To help offset . . . additional cost to employees, many public employers are examining a Section 125 plan, also known as a Premium Conversion Plan, POP, or Flex Plan. A Section 125 plan allows employees to make their premium contributions pre-tax - before federal, state, local, FICA, or Medicare taxes." (Kushner & Company)

New Data on Medical Benefits: Emergency Room Visits and Ambulance Services
"Most medical insurance plans provide coverage for emergency care, . . . according to a recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics based on the National Compensation Survey . . . . The study also found that emergency care coverage was subject to a variety of limits, including copayments and deductibles." (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Appropriations Legislation Includes Repeal of Free Choice Vouchers Under Health Care Reform
"Implementing the voucher provisions would likely have posed challenges since eligibility for vouchers was based on whether the required contribution for employer-sponsored coverage exceeded a specified percentage of the employee's household income." (Thomson Reuters/EBIA)

State Legislation and Actions Challenging Certain Health Reforms, as of April 21, 2011
"As of April 19, a total of 41 states have at least 164 measures filed, opposing elements of health reform or proposing alternative policies . . . .' (National Conference of State Legislatures)

Benefits in General; Executive Compensation

[Guidance Overview]
Proposed SEC Rules to Require Revised Exchange Listing Standards for Compensation Committees
"The proposed rules would direct the exchanges to establish listing standards that would apply to any committee of the board of directors that oversees executive compensation, but would not require the listing standards to apply to independent directors who oversee executive compensation in lieu of a board committee." (Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.)

Enrolled Agent Fees Lowered from $125 to $30 in Final Regulations
"The Internal Revenue Service has finalized regulations in the April 19 Federal Register that reduce fees to $30 for the initial application and renewal by enrolled agents and enrolled retirement plan agents in order to practice before the IRS." (Wolters Kluwer Law & Business)

Best Practices in Employee Financial Education for Different Generations
"When designing financial education programs for employees, companies that keep in mind generational differences in viewpoints, learning styles and adaptation to technology build more effective programs." (Liz Davidson, Financial Finesse via 401khelpcenter.com)

Press Releases

US Labor Department Obtains Order Against Ohio-based Christopher Technologies and President to Restore More Than $37,000 to Worker 401(k) Plan
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

US Labor Department Proposes Rule to Improve Employment of Protected Veterans
(U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA))

CIGNA Launches Enhanced International Employee Assistance Program
(CIGNA Corporation)

NCOA First in Nation to Offer Better Choices, Better Health to Employees
(National Council on Aging (NCOA))

Wide Range Found in 401k Total Plan Costs
(401k Averages Book)

TPA Signs On to Mid-Atlantic’s ModelxChange Platform
(Mid Atlantic Trust Company)

New “Digital Advantage” Product Suite Breaks Ground Delivering Exclusive Employee Benefits for Small- and Mid-Sized Employers
(Digital Insurance)

The Employee Benefits Security Administration is presenting a Free HIPAA and Other Health Benefits Laws: Compliance Assistance Seminar -- June 28-29, 2011 in Raleigh, NC.

Pre-registration is required and seats are allocated based on a first-come basis.

Presented by DOL, EBSA [Advert.]

Employee Benefits Jobs

Customer Service Representative
for YMCA Retirement Fund in NY

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Webcasts and Conferences

Overcoming 401(k) Nondiscrimination Testing Woes
in District of Columbia on May 9, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive, A Division of Thompson Publishing Group

The Fiduciary’s Role in the Self-Funded Industry: Avoiding Legal Landmines
in District of Columbia on June 9, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive, A Division of Thompson Publishing Group

The New Form 8955-SSA: How to Be in Compliance
in District of Columbia on May 19, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive, A Division of Thompson Publishing Group

Wellness Programs for a Multi-Generational Workforce
in District of Columbia on May 26, 2011 presented by Thompson Interactive, A Division of Thompson Publishing Group


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Jeanette Hull, News Editor
David Rhett Baker, J.D., Editor and Publisher
dbaker@benefitslink.com

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